Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Leafs prospect and junior star DiDomenico traded

BOUCHERVILLE, Que. – One day after winning gold with the Canadian juniors, forward Chris DiDomenico has been traded to the Drummondville Voltigeurs by the Saint John Sea Dogs.

Going to the Sea Dogs in exchange are goaltender Simon Giroux, winger Mathieu Gingras, a first-round pick in 2009 and a second-round pick in 2010.

DiDomenico adds to a potent Voltigeurs offence that leads the QMJHL in goals with 197.

The sixth-round pick (164th overall) of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2007 NHL draft, DiDomenico has 75 goals and 129 assists in 166 games with the Sea Dogs. This season, he has 11 goals and 23 assists in 26 games with Saint John.

"Chris has been a great player for us these last few seasons and it has been an absolute pleasure to have coached him," Saint John GM and head Jacques Beaulieu said in a statement. "He has a very bright future ahead of him, and we wish him nothing but the best as he continues down what promises to be a highly successful career path."

In 34 games this season, Gingras has seven goals, four assists and 14 penalty minutes. The 6-foot, 170-pounder from Woodbrige, Ont., was originally selected by Drummondville in the third round (53rd overall) of the 2007 QMJHL entry draft.